Oil well pumping apparatus



May 16, 19.33. w cL Q v 1,909,659

OIL WELL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 1h!ylizmyw May 16, 1933.,

w. H. CLAPP OIL WELL PUMPING APPARA'ITUS Filed Oct. 28, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 2 all ..II. A l RY 1% Wm Iii! WW1, DWINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPatented May 16, 1933 WILLIAM HOWARD CLAPP, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA OILWELL PUMPING APPARATUS I Application filed October 28, 1930. Serial No.491,663.

This invention relates generally to oil well equipment more specificallyto an apparatus for actuating the sucker of a usual plunger employed inpumping of oil wells.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described constructed in such a manner that a long stroke ofthe sucker rods may be obtained through the medium of a centrifugal 0punp operating under a practically constant hea Another object of theinvention is to'provide a pumping apparatus in which actua tion of thepump rods is efi'ected by alternately admitting and withdrawing fluidfrom'the lower end of a cylinder by means of a centrifugal pump workingin conjunction with a source of fluid under an adjusted pressure. o vFurther objects and advantages are to provide a pumping apparatus whichmay be installed at a relatively low initial cost, which will operate athigh mechanical efficiency, and in which the stroke of the rods may beregulated at will.

Other objects and advantages will be ap-. parent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a s1 pumping apparatus, parts being broken away and shown-insection.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on-line 33 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken through the control valves as indicatedby the line 44 ofFigl. s p j Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailsection taken through the control valve operating gear.

Fig. 6 is a'verti'cal sectiontaken substantially on'line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upperend of the pump cylinder and cross head.

' Fig. 8 is a'sectiontaken through the piston and cylinder showing indetail the means for injecting water. into the cylinder to replace deelevation of the improved leakage in the system during operation of theapparatus.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the control valves on an enlargedscale.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, 10 designates a cylinderwhich is adapted to be mounted in vertical position directly above thecasing head ofan' oil well.

Cylinder 10 is suspended on a pair of rods 12 depending from a yoke 1'4carried by a hook or other suitable suppolting member 15.

The opposite endsof the rods project through openings formed in the yokeand a flange 16 formed on the upper end of the cylinder, and are held inengagement therewith by nuts or the like 17.

' slidably mounted in the cylinder 10 is a piston 18 provided with a rod19, the upper end of which projectsabove the top of the cylinder and isconnected by a suitable fitting 20 to a cross head 21 slidably mountedon the rods 12. Rods22 are connected to the cross head at each endthereof, and extend down- Wardly therefrom through openings 23 formed inthe flanged end 24 of the cylinder and are connected to a yoke 25, whichin turn is connected to the polish rod 26 of the well pump.

Mounted on the derrick floor 30 adj acent= to the cylinder 10 is acentrifugal pump 32, 30 and a receiver 36. The centrifugal pump isdriven by an electric motor 34, or other suitable means. The pumpoperates in conjunction with'the receiver to effect reciprocation of thepiston 18 (which in turn actuates the 2 pump rods) in a manner morefully hereinafter described; the pump being connected to the cylinderand receiver by pipe lines and control valves arran ed as follows:

Formed .in the cyl nder wall adjacent the lower end thereof is a narrowelongated port 40; portions of the cylinder wall indicated at 41 form apassageway leading from the port and terminating'in a flanged end 42 towhich is secured a gate valve 43.

Pi e lines 44 and 45 are connected to lateral ranches 46 and 47 of acontrol valve 48 secured to the suction side of the pump- The pipe 44extends from the branch 46 and is connected by a suitable coupling 49 tothe gate valve 43. The pipe '45 extends from the branch 47 and isconnected to the receiver. In alike manner pipe lines 50 and 51 areconnected to the lateral outlets 52 and 53 of a control valve 54 securedto the discharge end of the pump. The pipe50 extends from the outlet 52and is connected to a coupling 55 located directly below an inlet port56 formed in the bottom wallof the cylinder, while the pipe 51 extendsfrom the outlet 53 and is connected to the receiver.

Referring to Fig. 4, the valves 48 and 54 are of the same construction,each of which consists of a body portion 60 in which is rotatablymounted a valve member designated at 62. Stems 64 are connected to saidvalve members and extend through stufling boxes,- the valve membershaving ports or passageways formed therein designated at 65 whichregister with the suction and discharge orifices of the centrifugal pump32.

The control valves are operated by a gear generally designated at 68which serves to nnpart a quick movement of the valve menibers 62, and isarranged as follows:

Secured to the valve stems are arms 70 which are connected to links 71,the opposite ends of the links being connected by clevices 72 to eachend of a cylindrical member 73 mounted in an opening formedin the upperend of an arm 74 of a quadrant 76 pivotally mounted on a pin 77 carriedby a member 78 mounted on the derrick floor.

Bell cranks designated at 82 and 83 are pivotally mounted on pins 84extending through openings formed in the side flanges 85 of the member78. The arms 86 and 87 of the bell cranks alternately engage indents 88and 89 formed in the arm 90 of the quadrant, the other arms 92 and 93 ofthe bell crank being connected together by a retractibleeoil spring94which serves to hold either of the arms 86 or 87 in engagement with theindents,the arm 90 of the quadrant being recessed as indicated at 91 toaccommodate the arm which is disengaged from its respective indent.

Pivotally connected to the outer end of arm 90 is a pair of bars 95, theopposite end thereof being connected to pins 96 projecting from a block97 slidably mounted on a tappet rod 98 having abutments 99 and 100secured thereto, which contact with the arms 92 and 93 of the'bellcranks, the tappet rod being slidably mounted in aligned aperturesformed in the flange 24 of the cylinder, yoke 25, and base 79 of themember 78.

Coil springs 102and 103 encircle the rod 98, the opposite ends of whichengage the block 97 and collars or the like 104 and 105 engaging upsetscrew threaded portions 106 and 107 formed on the rod. Adjustable stops108 and 109 engage the threaded portions of the tappet rod,'which, whenengaged by the; yoke 25, transmit movement to said rod which in turnactuates the valve members 62 through the gear 78 above described. The

valves are provided with stops 65 and 67 (see Fig. 9) which preventoverlapping or overacting at the beginning of the upstroke to aid inraising of the piston. It will be noted that, due to the gradual closingof the elongated port 40 in the cylinder by the piston on the downstroke, the centrifugal pump tends to keep operating at a practicallyconstant head. It will be understood that means to absorb energy otherthan the springs may be employed in lieu of the springs, for example,such as air compressed under the head of the piston 18 within the wallsthereof.

Means are provided for introducing water into the system to replacelosses caused through absorption or leakage around the valve stems, etc.This is accomplished by an injector generally designated at 116, clearlyshown in Fig. 8.

The injector consists of a barrel 117 mounted in an opening formed inthe piston head 118. A plunger 119 is slidably mounted in the bore 120of the barrel. An expansion spring 121 is disposed between the plungerand a plate 122 mounted inthe lower end of the bore 120. A ball checkvalve 123 engages a seat formed in the plate 122 and is urged intoengagement therewith by an expansion coil spring 124, there being anopening 125 formed in the plate above the valve seat, and an opening 126formed in a. cap 127 secured to the lower end of the barrel.

Extending upwardly from the pl unger'is a push pin 128 upon which isadjustably mounted, preferably by screw threads, a. head 129, the head.contacting with an inwardly projecting arm 130 formed on the upper endof a rod 131 slidably mounted in openings formed in the flange l6, andcompanion flanges 10a of the cylinder 10. An expansion coil spring 132encircles the rod between the flange 16,

and an adjusting nut 133threaded thereon. A stop collar 134 mounted onthe rod normally engages the upper face of the flange 16 and limitsdownward movement of the rod against the action of the spring 132.

The amount of Water required to replenish that lost through leakage orabsorption in the system is admitted into the open end of thecylinder-through a pipe 135, the flow of water being controlled by avalve 136 which is opened sufiiciently to permit a small driptherethrough. During the down stroke of the piston the Water thusadmitted passes into the barrel through a port 137 formed thereincommunicating with a port 138 formed in the piston head 118, the portsthen being uncovered by the plunger due to the action of the spring 121.On the upstroke of the piston, the water is forced from the barrelthrough the ports 125 and 126 into the cylinder by the plunger 119 afterthe head 129 on the pin 128 engages the arm 130, it being noted that thespring-132 is of sufiicient strength to overcome the spring 121, andhydraulic pressure in the cylinder reacting on the plunger when thecheck valve is unseated.

The spring 132 is provided to compensate for any adjustments made in thestroke of the piston.

Although the injector provides a convenient means for introducing waterinto the system, it will be understood, however, that it functions onlyfor its intended purpose,

and operates independently of the actual working parts of the pumpingmechanism.

The operation of the pumping apparatus is as follows: 0 l

The'centrifugal pump 32 is driven at a constant speed, and alternatelywithdraws water from the receiver and delivers it to the cylinder on theupstroke, and withdraws it from the cylinder and delivers it to thereceiver on the downstroke, the pressure developed in the receiver.being adjusted so that the pump operates under substantially the samehead during each stroke.

and arms '70. The arm 86 o 82 then engages the indent 88 in the arm 90Assuming the piston is on the downstroke, water in the cylinder passesthrou h the port 40 therein, pipe 44 (the valve 43 i-ng fully open),passageway in the valve member 62 of the control valve 48 to the suctionof the pump, the water entering the pump being discharged therefromthrough the passageway in the valve member of valve 54'and outlet 53,thence through pipe 51 to the receiver as shown in Fig. 4.

The valvemembers 62 of the control valves 48 and 54 are retained intheir respective positions during the down stroke by engagement of thearm 87 of the bell crank 83 with theindent 89-formed in the arm 90? ofthe quadrant as shown in Fig. 1. As the piston approaches thetermination of the down stroke, the yoke 25 engages the stop 109 andmoves the rod 98 with 1t. The spring102 then being compressed by thecollar 104, continued movement of the rod next disengages the arm 87from the indent by contact with the abutment 100.

Expansion of the spring 102 then actuates the quadrant through movementof the block 97 and bars 95, thus effecting a quick'reversal of thevalve members through the links 71 the bell crank due to the action ofthe spring 94 as shown in Fig. 5.

Water now passes from the receiver 36 through pipe 45, branch 47 of thevalve 48, through the passageway in the valve member therein into thecentrifugal pump and is discharged therefrom through the passageway inthe valve member of the valve 54, outlet 52, pipe 50 and port 55 intothecylinder thus efi'ecting the upstroke of the piston.

The valve members and parts of the control gear remain in theirrespective positions during the upstroke until the yoke 25 engages thestop 108 on the rod 98, continued upward movement of the rod thencompresses the spring 103 which actuates the quadrant through upwardmovement of the block and bars, i. e., when the, abutment 99 engages thearm 92 of the bell crank 82, thus returning the valve members to theposition shown in Fig. 1, the piston then moving on the down stroke asabove described.

It will be noted that due to the construction and quick reversal of thevalves water cannot by-pass or circulate through the ports 40 and 55 mthe cylinder.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pressure developed in thereceiver acts as a counter balance to the pump rods, thereby permittingthe pump to operate at a practically constant head. The closing of theelongated port 40 in the cylinder by the piston positively regulates thedischarge and definitely limits the down stroke, this throttling of thesuctlon to the pump also increasing the head at which the pump willdeliver,

especiallyso when a receiver is employed.

, From the construction it will be seen that a long stroke pump isprovided in which the movement of the rods is comparatively slow,thereby greatly reducing the inertia on the pump rods. down the pump itis desirable to hold or retain the piston in elevated position in orderthat the pump may be readily started. This is effected by closing of thevalve 43.

' An accumulator, or static pressure tank mounted in the derrick may besubstituted for the receiver, the pump and pipe lines being connectedthereto in the same manner as with the receiver.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylinder havingan inlet port formed in its bottom and an elongated discharge portformed in its side wall adjacent the lower end thereof, a gravitydepressed piston operable in said cylinder, a centrifu gal pump, asource of fluid under-an adjusted pressure, a valve connected to theintake and to the dischargeends of said centrifugal pump, pipe linesextendin from said valves to theports formed in said cylinder and tosaid source of fluid under pressure, means for simultaneously operatingsaid valves,

en it is necessary to shut whereby the flow of fluid induced by as pumpwill be withdrawn from said pressure source and delivered to saidcylinder to effeet the upstroke and withdrawn from the cylinder anddelivered to the source of fluid under pressure during the downstroke ofthepiston, and compression means associated with said piston, saidcompression means storing up energy during the termination of the downstroke and reacting at the be ginning of the up stroke to aid in raisingof the piston, the down stroke of said piston being definitely limitedand the discharge from the cylinder regulated due to closing of theelongated port by the piston.- 2. An apparatus of the characterdescribed comprisinga cylinder havinga pair of ports formed thereinadjacent the lower end thereof, a gravity depressed piston operating insaid cylinder, a centrifugal'pump, a valve connected to the intake andto the discharge end, of said centrifugal pump, each of said valvescomprising a body having a pair of lateral branches and a valve memberhaving a port formed therein adapted to alternately register with thelateral branches, a receiver containing fluid under an adjustedpressure, pipe lines extending between one set of the branches on saidvalve bodies and the ports formed in said cylinder, pipe lines extendingbetween the other set of branches on the valve bodies and the receiverat a point below the fluid level therein, a gear associated with saidvalves arranged to operate the valve members simultaneously, and meansinterconnected with said piston for actuating said gear as the pistonapproaches the termination of each stroke, whereby the flow of fluidinduced by said centrifugal pump willbe withdrawn inder to effect the upstroke and withdrawn from the cylinder and delivered to the receiverduring the down stroke of the piston.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylinder havinga pair of ports formed therein adjacent the lower end thereof, a pistonoperating in said cylinder, a contrifugal pump, a valve connected to theintake and a Valve connected to the discharge ends of said centrifugalpump, each of said Valves comprising a body having a pair of lateralbranches and a valve member having a port formed therein adapted toalternately register with the lateral branches, a receiver containingfluid under an adjusted pressure, pipe lines extending between one setof the branches on said valve bodies and the ports formed in saidcylinder, pipe lines extending between the other set of branches on thevalve bodies and the (receiver at a point below the fluidlevel therein,a rod secured to said piston and extending upwardly therefrom, a crosshead carried by said piston, a yoke secured to said rods and adapted tobe connected to a weighted ohrom said receiver and delivered to the cyl-I ject, a tappet rod slidably mounted in said yoke and having stopsthereon in spaced rod for disengaging said latches from said quadrant asthe piston approaches the termination of each stroke to effect a quickmovement of said valve member through expansion of said springs, wherebythe flow of fluid induced by said centrifugal pump will be withdrawnfrom said receiver and delivered to the cylinderto effect the up strokeand withdrawn from the cylinder and delivered to the receiver during thedown stroke of the piston.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WM. HOlVA RD OLAPP.

